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throughline podcast octavia butler

by Prof. Lazaro Kemmer Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Did Octavia Butler create Afrofuturism?

Octavia was among a small group of Black science fiction writers to get published, causing some to call her the mother of Afrofuturism, an open-ended genre combining science fiction, fantasy and history to imagine a liberated future through a Black lens.

Is Kindred an Afrofuturism?

Therefore, we can infer that it is Butler's use of time travel that makes Kindred an Afrofuturist writing. physical scars of slavery (marked on the bodies of slaves) but also figurative scars of slavery's trauma, exist in the Black man's psyche and their lived realities.

Why Octavia E Butler's novels are so relevant today?

The visionary sci-fi author envisaged an alternate future that foresaw many aspects of life today, from big pharma to Trumpism. Now she has a cult following, writes Hephzibah Anderson. It's campaign season in the US, and a charismatic dark horse is running with the slogan 'make America great again'.

Is Parable of the Sower Afrofuturism?

And we wanted to take a little bit of what we learned from discussing our last pick Afrofuturism and wanted to highlight how this book, Parable of the Sower, reflects Afrofuturism, so that way we can kind of apply some of the knowledge that we've learned early on in this episode.

Was Octavia Butler a feminist?

Octavia Butler, the celebrated feminist science fiction writer, died on Friday at 58. The first African-American woman to break into the male-dominated field of science fiction, Butler used the genre to explore themes of race, politics, poverty, morality, and gender.

Who started Afrofuturism?

Mark DeryThe term "afrofuturism" was coined by Mark Dery in his 1994 essay, "Black to the Future." In the piece, the term is defined as "speculative fiction that treats African American themes and addresses African American concerns in the context of the twentieth century technoculture—and, more generally, African American ...

What should I read after Octavia Butler?

What to Read After You've Loved Octavia E. ButlerColson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (2016) ... Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987) ... Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel (2019) ... Louise Erdrich, Future Home of the Living God (2017) ... Tananarive Due, My Soul to Keep (1997)More items...•

What is the best Octavia Butler book to start with?

Where to Start with Octavia ButlerKindred. Perhaps Butler's best known work, Kindred reimagines the time travel narrative. ... Bloodchild and Other Stories. "Bloodchild" was a breakout work for Butler, earning her the Hugo and the Nebula in the novelette category. ... Dawn. ... Parable of the Sower. ... Fledgling.

What book should I read by Octavia Butler?

7 Octavia Butler Books That'll Transport You to a New World Kindred (1979) ... Wild Seed: Book 1 in "The Patternist" Series (1980) ... Parable of the Sower: Book #1 in the "Parable" Series (1993) ... Bloodchild (1995) ... Fledgling (2005) ... Dawn: Book #1 in the Xenogenesis Trilogy (1987) ... Unexpected Stories (2014)

How does Lauren change in parable of the sower?

But as the journey progresses, Lauren becomes more welcoming of others (for example, 23.62-63). She wants recruits for Earthseed, after all, and she's gained confidence about how to survive outside Robledo.

What is the summary of the parable of the sower?

Regarded by many as the definitive cli-fi novel, Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler imagines what our future could look like if we don't take swift and appropriate action to mitigate climate change.

What elements of parable of the sower are Afrofuturist?

In reading and experiencing Parable of the Sower together this year, my students and I have encountered five major critical and literary themes found in Afrofuturism that can help bring out the verb in being an anti-racist educator: alienation and otherness, reclamation of history and identity, imagining futures as a ...

What impact did Octavia Butler's writing have on literature?

Through her writing, Butler challenged gender stereotypes in American fiction, white privilege in their narratives, and racism in her profession. She helped reshape the genre of science fiction by offering grounded, naturalistic stories in which characters like herself could flourish.

Why is Octavia Butler famous?

Author Octavia E. Butler is known for blending science fiction with African American spiritualism. Her novels include 'Patternmaster,' 'Kindred,' 'Dawn' and 'Parable of the Sower. '

Who was Octavia Butler influenced by?

Toni MorrisonSamuel R. DelanyHarlan EllisonDoris LessingOctavia E. Butler/Influenced by

Why is Kindred science fiction?

Octavia Butler's novel, Kindred, is categorized as science fiction because of the existence of time travel. This novel correlates with Gunn's definition because it connects with the fact that Dana, a 26-year old-American woman, travels from the future where she lives in California, to the past in Maryland.

From NPR

The past is never past. Every headline has a history. Join us every week as we go back in time to understand the present. These are stories you can feel and sounds you can see from the moments that shaped our world.

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The Electrical Grid (2020)

December 30, 2021 • Today, electricity in the U.S. is a utility we notice only when it's suddenly unavailable. But over a hundred years ago, electricity in the homes of every American was a wild idea and the subject of a bitter fight over who would power, and profit from, the national grid.

Bonus: On Our Watch

December 28, 2021 • What happens to police officers who use excessive force, tamper with evidence or sexually harass someone? In California, internal affairs investigations were kept secret from the public — until a recent transparency law unsealed thousands of files.

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